Single-person spacecraft

Abstract

A single-person spacecraft includes a pressurized crew enclosure, an external equipment bay, and an overhead crown assembly.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A single-person spacecraft, comprising:
 a pressurized crew enclosure comprising a large diameter upper enclosure member allowing arm movement and a smaller diameter lower enclosure member, the smaller diameter lower enclosure member comprising a foot restraint and at least one translation bar for crew translation into and out of the pressurized crew enclosure, wherein the foot restraint is adjustably mounted on the at least one translation bar in a manner allowing for up and down movement along the at least one translation bar relative to the upper enclosure member so to allow for proper positioning of astronauts of various sizes within the pressurized crew enclosure, 
 an external equipment bay, wherein the upper enclosure member is secured to the lower enclosure member via a frustum sheet metal section extending between a lower edge of the upper enclosure member and an upper edge of the lower enclosure member and feedthrough plates are formed along the frustum sheet metal section to provide access points for communicating between the pressurized crew enclosure and the external equipment bay, and 
 an overhead crown assembly, 
 wherein an air management system is provided in the pressurized crew enclosure, the air management system comprises at a spray bar located at a forward portion of the pressurized crew enclosure such that the spray bar blows air upwardly such that air flow washes a dome defined by a canopy and flows over an astronauts' head collecting cabin CO 2  and condensation down to an inlet filter located in the lower enclosure member along the forward portion of the crew enclosure. 
 
     
     
       2. The single-person spacecraft according to  claim 1 , further comprising a shielding skin, wherein space between the shielding skin and the pressurized crew enclosure defines the external equipment bay which is an unpressurized annular volume within which various subsystems of the single-person spacecraft are housed. 
     
     
       3. The single-person spacecraft according to  claim 1 , further comprising a docking mechanism and a hatch. 
     
     
       4. The single-person spacecraft according to  claim 1 , wherein the pressurized crew enclosure further includes a clear hemispheric canopy. 
     
     
       5. The single-person spacecraft according to  claim 4 , wherein the clear hemispheric canopy comprises a sun visor, an opaque shade, and a protective shield. 
     
     
       6. The single-person spacecraft according to  claim 1 , wherein the pressurized crew enclosure comprises a first horizontal translation bar within the upper enclosure member and the at least one translation bar comprises first and second vertical translation bars in the lower enclosure member. 
     
     
       7. The single-person spacecraft according to  claim 1 , wherein the foot restraint further comprises a foot activated lever used to release the foot restraint for movement between a storage position and a use position, wherein, and before entering the single-person spacecraft, astronauts pre-position the foot restraint to its desired height and rotate the foot restraint to its storage position and then, once within the crew enclosure, the astronaut uses the foot activated lever to release the foot restraint and allow it to be swung into place for use. 
     
     
       8. The single-person spacecraft according to  claim 1 , wherein the pressurized crew enclosure is supported by panel longerons providing primary load path for loads applied to the single-person spacecraft. 
     
     
       9. The single-person spacecraft according to  claim 8 , further comprising thrusters, propellant tanks, batteries, and a multifunctional drawer connected to, and stabilized by, the panel longerons. 
     
     
       10. The single-person spacecraft according to  claim 1 , wherein the crown assembly is secured to structural rails that arch over the pressurized crew enclosure. 
     
     
       11. The single-person spacecraft according to  claim 1 , wherein the crown assembly supports propulsion thrusters, lights and cameras. 
     
     
       12. The single-person spacecraft according to  claim 1 , further including a data processing system, the data processing system providing for flight control, robotics operation and processing relevant to the air management system. 
     
     
       13. The single-person spacecraft according to  claim 1 , further comprising a service panel within the pressurized crew enclosure. 
     
     
       14. The single-person spacecraft according to  claim 13 , wherein the service panel comprises inputs/outputs for servicing oxygen recharge, nitrogen recharge, water recharge, nitrox recharge, power recharge, data output, and inlet filter.